On Media

N.Y. Times sports editor takes buyout

By DYLAN BYERS

01/24/2013 10:40 AM EST

New York Times sports editor Joseph Sexton has accepted a buyout from the paper and will join ProPublica, the non-profit investigative journalism site.

Sexton, who recently won a slew of Pulitzer Prizes for breaking news, feature writing and investigative reporting, told fellow staffers in an email that he had "received a great offer," and was leaving the paper "burdened only by a great debt — of thanks and wonder." ProPublica editor-in-chief Stephen Engelberg announced Sexton's appointment as a senior editor this morning.

Sexton's departure comes on the day of the deadline for the Times current round of buyouts. In a memo to staff last night, executive editor Jill Abramson urged staffers to once again consider buyouts before she was forced to go to layoffs.

"The voluntary buyout process in the newsroom, which began last month is now coming to an end. The voluntary buyout period closes Thursday at 5 p.m.," she wrote. "If you think the buyout is something that works for you at this time in your life, we urge you to give the offer serious consideration if you haven’t already. Each buyout we record reduces the possibility of layoffs."